No risk to children from synthetic fields

TRENTON, N.J. — Children aren't at risk for lead exposure from synthetic athletic fields, according to a report Wednesday from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The commission evaluated synthetic athletic fields after lead was detected on some New Jersey fields, raising worry about exposure to children.

But the commission said no tested field released amounts of lead that would be harmful.

"A variety of artificial turf products were evaluated for risk exposure to lead and the bottom line is parents should not be concerned about harmful levels of lead in artificial turf," said Julie Vallese, a commission spokeswoman. "Go out and play."

While the evaluation found no harmful lead levels, the commission is asking that voluntary standards be developed for synthetic turf to preclude the use of lead in future products.

The commission said its study showed newer fields had no lead or generally had the lowest lead levels. Although small amounts of lead were detected on the surface of some older fields, none of these tested fields released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children.

Lead is present in some synthetic turf products to give the turf its various colors, but can cause brain damage and other illnesses, particularly in children.

Conditions such as age, weathering, exposure to sunlight and wear and tear may change the amount of lead that could be released from the turf, and the commission considered particles on a child's hand, then transferred to their mouth, would be the most likely route of exposure.

Still, it determined young children wouldn't be at risk.

As an overall guideline, the commission recommends young children wash their hands after playing outside, especially before eating.

A California environmental watchdog group, the Center for Environmental Health, reported last month that it found excessive amounts of lead in several brands of artificial turf. It warned some of the biggest manufacturers and sellers that it would sue unless they recall or reformulate their products.

It was unconvinced by the commission's findings, calling it a flawed analysis.

"They could not be trusted to protect children from lead in baby bibs or lunch boxes, and now we see that they can't be trusted to protect children from lead in turf," said Michael Green, the center's executive director.

The center's report followed New Jersey health officials' finding of unacceptably high lead levels in some synthetic surfaces.

New Jersey health officials first discovered elevated lead levels at an athletic field in Newark last fall, then found similarly high levels in two other nylon-based fields.

A follow-up test showed the lead found on New Jersey's turf fields could be absorbed by humans, but the state said the lead levels were not high enough to cause poisoning to people who play on the fields.

All three New Jersey fields were ripped up and replaced.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services said in a statement it needs to review the commission's findings, but said it seems to support their conclusion that the top concern is degradation of older fields, which it said can create an environment with lead-filled dust.

Turf manufacturers have insisted their products are safe.

Rick Doyle, president of the Synthetic Turf Council, an industry trade group, has said the lead in turf is encapsulated in the blades and neither leaches out nor becomes airborne.